We have a very special
guest joining us tonight and he is very excited to be here. He's made us
laugh and cheer week after week, he always seems to "get the girl" and
he's the Official's right hand man! Without our very special guest, the
Agency would fall apart and no one would be able to find anything. Fellow
Imaniacs, please give a warm and generous welcome to that Lovable Lackey,
the "invisible" super sleuth attaché...MIKE MCCAFFERTY!!!

Mike: Hello everybody.
I'm so excited. Very excited and I want to say a couple things first. I
want to say thanks a lot to everyone for being such great fans. from the
start you've been great fans. I followed this from the beginning from the
Internet, and it's overwhelming how it's grown I feel like I know everyone
here. this show wouldn't be here without you guys. I guess the 2nd thing
is that this next season (1.5) is gonna be really, really good I think.
it's really like it's own season that's why it's 1.5. there's an arch and
developments and characters that make it a great situation and I think
there will be a time when you guys will be rewarded...is that the right
word? You get to vote and we get to say thanks one last thing You're all
first to know....thanks to your efforts as of next season I will be full
time resident of the Invisible Man Cast!! so thank you everyone

Thanks Mike for your
kind words about the fans! And congratulations!! Now we'll start the Q
& A session.

<Spud> What karaoke
song would Eberts have to sing if there ever was a karaoke scene in the
show?

Mike: oh boy.
oh come on spud *laughs* let's see ... can I come back with a clever answer
on that one? Oh .. hang on ... I know! The William Shatner version of Tambourine
Man Actually I might sing that, not Eberts .. but there you have it.

<Spud> it works. thank
you!

Mike: BTW -- thank
you for the website Spud, you're aces.

<silverLAB> Do you
think we will ever see a episode centered on Eberts or at least find
out more info about him?

Mike: Um ... I
think so! I talked with the writers; Craig and a new one Steve Binder.
He wrote 2, neither of which I was in. When I met him at the party he pitched
a bunch of stories and the only ones they did were the ones I wasn't in
and he feels bad about that. But in talking to them, they told me they
just had an Eberts script accepted!So we'll be seeing this
in season 2!

Mike: It is indeed
[very exciting].

<silverist> Mike-we've
heard what Vince & Paul would like to see happen in the show, what
direction would you like to see-more comedy/conflict or ....?

Mike: You know
I like the comedy aspect the pilot originally had, especially with the
Agency and the ineptness of government and really off the wall things like
Canadian Nationals. I think when Matt left after the 3rd episode it took
a while for the show to find it's center again, [and] eventually it did.
but I wouldn't mind going back to that again. it's a real balancing act
to pull that off but when you do, it's great.

<SciFiFan47> Sorry
if you've already answered this question but are you ascience fiction fan?
Besides Invisible Man of course.

Mike: I am a HUGE
scifi fan!! Thank you! This is sort of like a dream come true for me because
ever since I was a little kid I've loved scifi. Star Trek, which is on
SciFi right now! Me and my friends were just remarking on the fact that
this guy looks nothing like Jeff Hunter. What's that all about?

**For very cute pictures
of Mike in his "Trek get-up" visit his webpage.**

Mike: [I loved]
Babylon 5, Dune, Battlestar Galactica. So yeah, I'm a huge scifi fanI'm the only real hard
core sci fi fan of the cast and among the writers too, interestingly enough.
but that's okay. So whenever anyone has any questions about the scifi aspect
of it, they come to me.

<Helena> Do you read
as well as watch?

Mike: I used to
read a lot more than I do now. I used to embrace the literacy a lot more.
I read Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, the Dune novels, [and] a lot of the early
scifi. I dunno I think I got stupid, I just stopped reading.

<sahall77> if you
answered this before, I'm sorry. But how did you know this was the
right show for you other than being a sci fi fan? Because we all
think your perfect for the part and we love ya...

Mike is now showered
with compliments and terms of endearment =)

Mike: the answer
is .. um ..It was the right show because it had a paycheck at the end of
it primarily.

LoL, we appreciate
your honesty.

Mike: secondarily
it grabbed a mousy charactery type and beyond that it just .. I thought
I had a good idea where they wanted to go with it. luckily I was right!

<sage26> Here goes!
Hey Mike! Thanks SO much for chatting with us! Ok, for my question, I'd
like to ask where do you see yourself in 10 years? Either regarding the
show or personal life.

Mike: Gosh, digging
ditches probably. No that's not true...If the show goes on for 10
years I'd love to be part of it and then probably, lounging here in Vegas
for the rest of my life living off the royalties and going to scifi
conventions. You know it's kind of funny with the grave digging here I
am doing a tv show and I'm ... digging ditches .. so...Still married to
Sarah of course. Maybe a couple of kids...Eberts jr's. no one hold me to
this please

Now we're all seeing
little baby boys in tiny suits...Eberts McCafferty. Has a nice ring to
it.

<RevTrask> Everybody
knows who shot the sheriff...so...who shot the deputy?

Mike: That one
stumped me Rev. I shot the sheriff...but...beyond that ...

* RevTrask tries to live
without knowing...but it's hard.

Mike: I need a
clarification there. I know it's a Bob Marley song.

<quicksilvermad> Hey
Mike! My question is, how many different ties does Eberts have anyways?
And, I have to tell you I'm working on your portrait right now!

Mike: Thank you
for the portrait. I will hang it over my mantle. as far as ties; Eberts
has an infinite number of ties all stored in various closets hidden throughout
the southern united states.

LoL, now everyone
down in the South is going to find a tie of Eberts', which he'll never
get now, since the South is covered in ice.

And then, a party
crasher came to ask his question, which we allowed =D

Mike: What a great
question! I can't speak highly enough of our incredible props staff. I
think everyone else now knows your real persona but to answer you question
"never" ...

Oh, we think never's
just joshing around.

Mike: I would
have to say my favorite prop would be ....

<neveroddoreven> The
watch, right?

Mike: THE TRI-DIMENSIONAL
DATA VIEWERS. the watch is a close 2nd

<neveroddoreven> How
about the briefcase that never was used? It was soEberts...

Mike: About that
scene ... I think I mentioned about the images that were in the viewers
while I was trying to talk-- how difficult it was trying to rattle off
a group of people while looking at Disney photos. Not put into the scene
at the end of the scene Eddy picks up the data viewer and looks at it,
probably looking at Laila, sort of drooling. he added that in and it didn't
make the cut.

We're sensing that
Walt is spinning in his grave...er, freezer.

Mike: The "I want
the purple one" line Vince did was ad-libbed. The way Paul and Vince work
is interesting to watch. they get the script before they get ready to rehearse.
they look it over and then start riffing on it. of course all of the time
it's usually better because it's how they talk. it makes it harder for
those of us who tend to stick with the script. especially Eddy. poor Eddy.

<neveroddoreven> Then
completely forget the lines that were written...

Mike: Exactly.
but sometimes those beautifully crafted lines don't make it to the camera.

<neveroddoreven> Eddie
keeps up with them better now, now that he realizesthat's just the way
they work.

<Nebula> Ok, first
off I want to thank you soooo much for putting my web page URL on your
links page! twice, nontheless ^_^ and for my question..

Mike: Your welcome!
I accidentally left out yours Spud, sorry

<Spud> it's okay *g*

<Nebula> I know that
you were in "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" (playing Charlie himself),
do you have a favorite instrument? or have you played an instrument? other
than your voice? =)

Mike: I play the
piano. for About 12 years I played the piano, just sort of picked it up
which means I'm a hack. but for 5 years I was part of an acapella quartet.
I did karaoke at the party. I can't remember what I sang, but someone sang
summer nights like 3 times and drove us NUTS!

<R2> okay Mike ..
this is for Lauren (OboeCrazy) Do you think there will ever be a backstory
for Eberts, or can you give us one?

* RevTrask heard that
Eberts put himself thru college as a taxi dancer<Fawkes-fan> what
is a taxi dancer?<Spud> male escort* Helena thinks that
Eberts' wife put him through college :-)

Mike: I don't
know if there is a back story for Eberts. I don't mind that there isn't
one right now, it adds to his mystery. I tried to keep out the IRS line
just so you never knew what he did. there were a couple takes I did put
it in and some where I didn't and we went with it. it's just kind of funny
that you don't know what this guy does or where he came from. he just sort
of... talks

<MrsSpooky> First
off Mike, I think you know that Eberts is all our favorite teddy bear in
a tie. :) My question is - what is your favorite type of music. What is
EBERTS' favorite music?

Mike: I want to
divert here for a minute ...I want to talk About Mrs. Spooky and the first
time I came in contact with her...I remember I was looking over the GvsE
website when they were getting ready to cancel the show and put our show
in. I wanted to see what everyone was saying About it and Mrs Spooky
seemed like a literate person. She wanted to boycott I-Man. She wanted
to boycott our show

<MrsSpooky> honey....Mike: So I took
the time to email her and tell her I was in the show and that I agreed
that it was bad they were canceling the show but I asked her to please
sample the show first, and she emailed back that she would watch it, that
she had no malice toward the show but she just wanted to raise the attention
of the sci fi channel. eventually, of course, she became a great fan of
the show and she's right here right now.

<MrsSpooky> All because
of YOU

Mike: and so I
was appreciative of the fact that she took time to give the show a chance.

<MrsSpooky> I really
don't remember urging people to boycott the show, but after you posted,
I did ask them all to give y'all a chance.

Mike: I like to
call R2 the number one fan, but I like to call Mrs Spooky the number 0
fan because she was there before anyone else was.

<MrsSpooky> Isn't
he cute? :)

Mike: Now I should
answer her question ...

Mike: My music
(Mike) is either classical or show tunes because it's kind of work and
pleasure at the same time as far as Eberts...I think head banging music

There's a ska bone
in every character! Now we want to see Eberts in a mosh pit. ;D

Now people are picturing
Eberts as a Twisted Sister band member. Or maybe rapping in front of a
mirror in a towel. LoL. Now we could see Hobbes, Darien, Eberts and Claire
head banging in the car to "bohemian rhapsody."

<MissingDo> Hi Mike:
This is from two brains.. MissingDoor and The MalteseHobbes.. two brains..
one computer...Our question is... which do you prefer? Working on TV or
in live theater? Anything planned for live theater during the break?

Mike: Well ..
as a matter of fact, I just finished doing a show in Iowa of all places
where they don't even get what the Invisible Man. at least where I was.

Mike: It's in
Riverside, too far away! As far as to which one I prefer...they are 2 totally
different animals. I love doing TV and film because of the intimacy ..
but I love doing theater because of the immediate feedback you get. it's
kind of difficult to film something and then forget About it for 3 months
to a year and then expect to have any sort of visceral reaction to it.
The show I did in Iowa was called A Hometown Christmas and it was a recreation
of a dinner party in 1913. I had to sing About 30 songs. if you want to
see what the show looked like go to www.hotelpattee.com
and there are some pics from last year too, but we're also starting to
reshoot in Jan .. so .. look for Season 2!!

Mike: My dad's
answer was...he was always in his room writing scripts with a blunt pencil.

<Misbe> Thanks for
talking to us tonight....Are we going to find out what the tension between
Hobbes and Eberts is? Hi Mike's Dad!

Mike: As far as
the tension being explained, we haven't gotten that far yet, but it's still
going to be there and it's going to bump up a bit! The way Paul describes
it, and I agree, is that it's sort of like 2 siblings. I was always the
"good kid" and he was the one who was the rebel of the family and so we
just bicker all the time. I think that's what the tension is...

So we see the two
vying for *Daddy's* approval.

<Misbe> bye the way
Mike...I can see Eberts singing Feelings with a karaoke machine very easily....

Mike: when I went
in and assessed how I would treat the characters. I originally decided
I wasn't going to like Darien. but the way it all turned out, and Vince
is such a nice guy, is that it got flip flopped and once Paul hooked onto
that, he ran with that in the only way he can. LOL Misbe on the "Feelings"
I like that. My step-sister says "hi" as well. BTW I don't live with my
family, just so you know, I'm visiting them in Michigan.

<ZombieTongue> What
films have you been casted in, and what was your favorite?

Mike: I've done
4 films, 3 independent, and 1 which will never see the light of day...
in that one I got to play a trekkie.

* neveroddoreven would
like to point out how many people were on the beach here in SD when he
flew in today.

Mike: we love
those prop guys, don't we...I was in "Bring it On" but they cut my scene.
I was a perverted science teacher.

Sorry, About that
one. But at least we don't have to endure two hours of cheerleading.

Mike: It's okay...
because I'm not sure my mom could have handled that.

<WyldInvisiChyld>
What is your favorite food?

Mike: that's actually
a good one! dessert wise .. I'm a big fan of chocolate chip cookies....
my step sister is making some right now, party at my house as far as regular
food ... I'm a simply guy I'm just happy with meat and potatoes basically.

Hey, now we know how
to bribe--I mean shower him with gifts.

Mike: right, right!
Just don't make it meat and potatoes in the mail, please.

Mike: I think
Ralph from a viewer perspective, and my friend Tony agrees. When we got
the first 3 scripts, I didn't know how they were going to pull off this
show from the pedestrian approach. then I got Ralph, and it blew me away.
Just a sweet story that took a unique look at being invisible, and I knew
from that point that we were going to be okay. My favorite, to do myself,
was The Other Invisible Man. overall, that's my 2nd favorite too because
there were so many neat things About it. I got to stun Darien with a stun
baton. at the end, when we're all holding him down, it turned into a hug
and I got to feel like I was part of the group it was a bonding thing for
all of us, very neat.

<kagee24> Hey mike!
thanx soooo much for joining us, so here's my question: Well since we did
ask Vince and Paul this question I just have to ask you this one,.......boxers
or briefs? 8-)

Mike: well ...
uh ... isn't this like a don't ask don't tell sort of thing here? but the
answer is ... uh ... Boxers. I do have some Darth Maul boxers as
well as Mr. Potato head.

<CitrusBlast> Thanks,
Mr McCafferty, what is Eberts whole name?? I've been wondering that since
the first eppy...

Mike: Well ...
Eddy has a suspicion that it's Percival. I'm not quite sure myself. I'm
not sure he HAS any other name besides Eberts, because it's never mentioned
and it seems to serve as both a first and last name. So... yeah...

<Jago-ji> Hullo Mike!
Thanks for being here! Okay my question is a bit off the wall and
goofy, but I am a way off the wall person....What would you do if you were
being followed by paparazzi?

Mike: that's a
good question. it's something I've never considered until somebody figured
out my website, *wink at R2*, and I realized I had a lot of personal info
there. but I think at least for the first 10 years I'll post for everyone
for at least an hour and then the latter half of my life will become
violent.

Okay, we're trying
to envision Mike grabbing a camera and smashing it to the ground....uh
uh...just don't see it.

Mike: Um .. well
.. at this point in my career it wouldn't be a BAD problem to have! I'm
pretty good natured about it, I wouldn't care

Mike is a crotchety
old man many years from now, yelling at teenage boys to get off his property.
Headlines in the near future at the supermarket: "Crazed fan screams I
HAD EBERTS BABY!!"

Mike: I like it!
I like it! good question though, Jago. something to think About in the
future. Yeah, you're outside my house Jago, aren't you?

The Eberts Teenyboppers!
Painted faces with Mike's name on it. Backstreet Who? Nsync what? People
screaming I had Eberts LOVE child! It's not "stalking"...it's love.

<IvyThePlant> If IMan
was suddenly revamped into a cartoon and auditions were held for the part
*imagines Scooby and Papa Smurf waiting in line at the casting office*...
which cartoon character (do you think) would portray Eberts the best? *Ivy
ponders a new recast*

Mike: oh that's
easy...Mr. Smithers. In the original description of the character, Smithers
was mentioned. Eberts was a Smithers-like character. Maybe Eberts is Waylon
then...

<I-Mom> When did you
realize you wanted to be an actor?

Mike: My senior
year in High School I tried out for the musical Grease, and to my surprise
I got a good part in it and after that I got hooked on it and never really
looked back. I was going to be a computer programmer...I played "Roger"
and he sang the song called "Mooning."

Mike: I like horror
too, but they honestly scare me sometimes. I watch them, but they scare
the crap out of me. I get nightmares sometimes! I guess Scifi would have
to be the answer to that one, being the huge fan that I am.

<Nebula> got a favorite
movie? =)

Mike: and as far
as favorite movie recently, hands down...Matrix. I did see X-Men and I
liked it a lot too. My favorite character in that movie would probably
be ... I guess Wolverine. from the comic book Sprite and Nightcrawler.

<Fawkes-fan> Hi Mike!
Thanks for coming. Is there any chance of The Official treating Eberts
with more respect in the future? I feel so badly for poor Eberts.

Mike: The acting
blew me away in that movie. To be honest I think recalling season 1.5 I
think there's going to be less respect for Eberts. he gets the bad end
of a lot of deals there.

<Doretta78> MIKE!!!
:) You rock! Do you ever get the chance to read any fan fiction?
And if so...did you get a chance to check out the contest fics on R2's
site?

Mike: I would
like too, I've read a couple of them early on but because of copyright
infringement on stories that seem similar I can't really. I've been trying
to write a script for I-Man and if I accidentally incorporate someone's
fanfic into my story I could be sued for plagiarism.

I think every fanfic
writer would love to have a piece of their fanfic make it to your script.

Mike: I know that
none of you guys would ever sue, but ... just the fact that people know
I read fanfics online means I could be open to any litigation because someone
could say I stumbled across theirs somewhere else. so I wish I could but
... I think I'm gonna have to stop.

<Delka> Okay here
goes "How important do you think the fans are to theshow? Or better yet
what do you think of us IMan fans?"

Mike: I think
fans are the biggest resource to any scifi show. just look at Star Trek
or Babylon 5. I think a fan is worth 20 regular viewers of any show because
you'll go out of your way to make someone watch the show. I think I-Man
fans are AMAZING. the fact that you've rallied around this show after only
14 episodes and you stuck around through this horrendous 3 month hiatus.
so I knew from the very beginning I wanted to reach out to you and that
you had a voice and we'd listen to you. I think that in season 1.5 you
guys will be rewarded. It will be worth it, trust me.

<Carli33> Hiya Mike!
We're honored to have you with us! You probably know meas Keeper of PBV, Paul's
friend Suzi, & I've heard wonderful things Aboutyou! My question is,
would you like to see Eberts in a relationship with theKeeper?

Mike: I think
you will see some connections, but nothing with Eberts. Can't say. wait
until January. I'm sorry.

I think we all recall
the words "bedroom" "Hobbes" and "keeper" in the same sentence...

<Adelheide> I have
a two-parter. Mike, thanks for being with us tonight. We really appreciate
you taking the time to chat. Part A) Did you ever go to cons in your
sci fi fans days?

Mike: yes I did.
I went to 1 convention .. it was when Shatner and Nimoy did one together.
there were 5000 people there. Some guy kept shouting out "Tell us about
the Warp Factor 9." no one knew what he was talking About.

<Adelheide> Okay,
Part B) Does this give you a unique perspective on sci fifans, now that you have
some of those fans

Mike: absolutely.
being one of the scifi fans, I know exactly what it's like to be a fan
and to want to reach out and connect to the show. that's why I try to do
the files and email people back when I can. to make you feel we're all
working together for this.

Mike: Let me ask
YOU something here... Who is planning on going to comciccon... just a quick
yes/no.

Looks like a lot of
people are going.

<KatrynSedai>
A question: Any news on whether IMan will be participating in comic
con this July (and if you will be in particular)?

Mike: I don't'
see why we won't. it's here in San Diego and it's the largest scifi convention.

Now I (Spud) wish
San Diego was closer to Atlanta...

Mike: we did it
last year. the cast and crew are VERY excited to meet the fans, especially
the fan club fans. Kind of like when R2 Helena and Katryn were on the set
everyone was like "it's the fan club girls." I hope everyone can make it,
because we'll definitely try to make it. If the I-Man doesn't go, I'll
go to comiccon to meet you guys.

Excellent news, Mike!Spud bats her eyelashes
::CoughDragonConcough::

Mike: If someone
pitches for a plane ticket to GA I'll go! Now that I'm a series regular,
they can do what they want with me.

Hrm...Let's see if
we got any cash in the bank.... Now the east coasters are coming up with
ALL kinds of fund-raising ideas now!

<Helena> Without revealing
any possible spoilers, what is your "personal" take on the relationship
of Eberts and The Official. Personally, I still say Eberts is his
nephew: Cheap labor and all.

Mike: okay Brenda,
it's never been banted About with the writers, but I can see an uncle/nephew
relationship or even a son/father relationship. it does kind of have a
star wars effect and I don't know if it will ever happen. perhaps something
with cloning, I'm not sure.

Helena chuckles.

You and Hobbes...both
clones of the official...vying for his attention...Yeah, "Eberts, I'm your
father." The official turns out to have asthma. A few sparti tanks in the
office.

Mike: Tony says
that I-Man is an excellent lead in to Farscape, BTW.

<Lisa-SmartyPants>
Hello Mike, love your character's role in the Iman "family". I consider
you the little brother. *g* We've heard About practical jokes around the
set, have you played any? or have any stories to share?

Mike: Not really,
I know that sounds like a lame answer but as far as I know, everyone is
just trying to get through the show and figure out how it's all working.

Not a bit mischievous?

Mike: I think
that by season 2... it's gonna start a little bit more crazy. Uh...as far
as practical jokes, no. But they do goof around all the time. Vince is
VERY serious on the set. Vince is so focused when he's on the set... Paul
sometimes tries to throw him a little bit. especially with his adlibs.
but, I'll try and come up with some practical jokes for season 2.

WhooHoo!! Let the
blooper reels start!

Mike: I have a
picture of me on my website wearing my I-Man shirt, BTW. I look terrible!
But it's there Thank you all so much for the shirt.

Mike: It's just
a picture, but enjoy! Just a little thanx for the cool shirt. Is that it?

We've got all the
questions that were asked.

Mike: I want to
thank you all so much, this has been a true thrill for me. I hope you enjoy
the next 9. I'll do everything in my power to make the following 22 everything
you guys want. I have to skiddaddle, but thanks again!

Thank you so much
Mike! Everyone appreciates you answering their questions. Also, a
big thank you to the three women who made this possible, R2, Auntie Helena,
and Katryn!